CCCS Internal 
April 9, 2025 (Denver, CO) – Today the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and Aims Community College honored more than 80 community college students during the 2025 Student Excellence Awards, an annual event hosted by CCCS in partnership with the Credit Union of Colorado and the State Student Advisory Council (SSAC).
The event recognizes students for their outstanding service and scholarship within three categories:
- The Inclusive Excellence Champion award, sponsored by SSAC, recognizes students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion on their campus;
- The Rising Star award, sponsored by SSAC, recognizes students who have increased the level and quality of student engagement on campus; and
- The Phi Theta Kappa All-Colorado Academic Team award recognizes the academic accomplishments of high-achieving student members of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society from across the state of Colorado.
New to the 2025 Student Excellence Awards is the Rollie Heath Concurrent Enrollment Leadership Award, presented to one system-level recipient, chosen from the 13 college-level awardees. This award recognizes successful college students who also earned Concurrent Enrollment credits during their high school years and who demonstrate leadership in their community.
The 2025 inaugural Rollie Heath Concurrent Enrollment Leadership Award winner is Deanna Molina-Nevarez of Pueblo Community College. The Concurrent Enrollment alumni demonstrated leadership, growth, innovation, and accomplishment in knowledge, skills, and connections to their degree plan and contributed to their college or community. This award honors the work of former Colorado State Senator and SBCCOE Board Chairman, Rollie Heath, who focused his time in office on building Concurrent Enrollment pathways for learners to successfully enter the world of work, military careers, or further postsecondary education, including at one of our 13 CCCS colleges.
“This event is always an inspiration as we recognize each of these scholars for their exceptional commitment to academic excellence and community leadership,” said Joe Garcia, chancellor of CCCS. “We are proud to recognize their efforts today and know they will continue to make an impact wherever they go next; their contributions are truly commendable”
This event is always an inspiration as we recognize each of these scholars for their exceptional commitment to academic excellence and community leadership.
The 2025 honorees are as follows:
| College | Inclusive Excellence Champions | Rising Star Awardees | Phi Theta Kappa Awardees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aims Community College | Kevin Ailon Meguel Marrufo Guerra Darlene Ramirez | ||
| Arapahoe Community College | Dayanna Villamizar Florez | Iris Everett Sahtra Green | Kyle Picker Miina Krishnakumar Austin Watson |
| Colorado Northwestern Community College | David Lopez Gutierrez | Crystel Silva Montes | |
| Community College of Aurora | Akelia Reddie | Ryan Barnett Meried Amare Miguel Araujo | |
| Community College of Denver | Dani Fernandez Rosas | Tina Kribbs Fancy Frost | Diego Garcia Reyes Kristen Thompson |
| Front Range Community College | Abel Martinez Rodriguez | Leah Shipley Savanna Humphrey Adalinda Nava Obregon | Leah Shipley Irma Vazquez Hannah Brown Gaven Carson Elizabeth Mahoney Tzyy-Ling Wang Hannah Deford Christi Jo Hahn Leydy Rodriguez Gonzalez Abbey Shephard |
| Lamar Community College | Brielle Baca | Ivory Rico Curtis Stovall | Ruth Espinoza Kaitlyn Frydenlund |
| Morgan Community College | Jorge Hernandez | Maria Gomez Angela Gomez | Tonya Dory Angela Gomez Katie Little |
| Northeastern Junior College | Ethan Glenn | Breccen Morelli Gracie Clark | Gracie Clark Sarah Liepold |
| Otero College | Brittany Ferguson | Kamryn Foster Makenna Mosher | Kai Goodman Claire Johnson |
| Pikes Peak State College | Araceli Trujillo Delgado | Mikey Justiniano Jamie Mosley | Jennifer Mark Lillie Turner Maureen Williams Lillian Greene |
| Pueblo Community College | Adrian Hernandez | Natalia Lobato Paul Link | Aurora Aldrich Evamarie Maestas Maranda Reyes |
| Red Rocks Community College | Len McGurty | Saige Chapin Victoria Maldonado | Terrence Micciche-Hall Sheree Smith |
| Trinidad State College | Zane Royce Evangelista Kaiden Mima |
To view more images from the 2025 Student Excellence Awards, view our photo album.
